• Please do not withdraw your student from participation as a disciplinary measure. Doing so impacts the entire ensemble, disrupts rehearsals, and creates additional work for staff to adjust performances. Our expectations for student behavior extend beyond the program, and we are happy to work with you to address concerns and support positive behavior.

• To protect the rehearsal environment for our students, rehearsals are closed to the public (including parents).

• Please wait for your student outside of the Bandroom before and after/events.

Issue or Concern?

• Please contact us by email or phone to discuss your concern, and we will be happy to address it.

• Please do not approach instructional staff before or after rehearsals, as they are occupied with student supervision and responsibilities during those times.

• To respect fellow audience members and protect the rights of composers and copyright holders, audio and video recording—including mobile devices and live-streaming applications—is strictly prohibited during rehearsals and performances.

• When available, professional-quality recordings will be shared on the members’ page of our website.

• Recordings may not be shared online or on social media.

Marching Band: Students are required to ride the bus with the ensemble to and from competitions.

Winter Guard & Winter Percussion Season: Transportation may or may not be provided depending on the day/location of the competition. Please check the itinerary.

If you plan to pick up your student after an event when they would normally return by bus, please submit a Post-Event Release Form (available under the Parents menu on our website) in advance. If no return transportation is provided, the form is not required.

Pre-approval from the director is not required. However, students may only be released after the following have occurred:

• The group has completed its performance and competition.

• The truck has been fully loaded.

• The ensemble has been officially dismissed and is ready to leave.

• Please do not request earlier than the posted dismissal time on the competition itinerary pickup.

• Event locations and directions are typically available on our website and through standard map services.

• As soon as we receive assigned warm-up and performance times, an itinerary will be posted on our website, becmusic.org, under the Calendar menu. This page will include detailed event information and the full Student Itinerary.

• If you drive to an event when buses depart from Buchanan, please do not caravan with the buses. This creates distractions and safety concerns, as buses are required to travel together.

• Event itineraries include time for unloading, meals (when provided), uniform changes, warm-ups, and travel to the performance area. Because competitions involve many preparation steps, we often arrive several hours before performing and may remain several hours afterward, depending on the schedule.

• Students are trained in their pre-performance responsibilities and must remain focused on their upcoming performance. For this reason, parents and families should avoid visiting with students before or immediately after a performance.

• If students are given designated free time—before warm-ups or after performing—you may check in with them. The truck and bus areas remain off-limits until after the performance and until students receive further instructions.

• When congratulating your student after a performance, please remain clear of all band vehicles so students can efficiently change out of uniform and assist with equipment loading.

• During free time or while watching other groups, students must remain in groups of at least three (3) and sit together in the stands. Students may not leave the competition site without direct permission from a director.

• After performing, the group typically returns to the truck area to receive director comments and begin loading equipment. When time allows, students will return to the performance area to watch other groups and attend awards.

• At the conclusion of the competition, students will return to the trucks and/or buses to complete loading and may be provided a snack. Once loading is complete, they will depart for Buchanan, a housing site, or be dismissed.

• When picking up students at Buchanan, please avoid parking in loading zones and leave several spaces open along the south curb near the bandroom. This area is reserved for bus unloading. Park only in designated parking spaces.

• Please be patient during bus unloading. Students exit row by row to check for missing items and clean their seating area.

• At the conclusion of the competition, students will return to the trucks and/or buses to complete loading and may be provided a snack.

• Once loading is complete, they will load the bus and depart for Buchanan, the hotel, or be dismissed.

  • Winter Season Local Competitions: Students will always be dismissed from the blue Buchanan semi-truck. Please meet your students at the truck at the assigned dismissal time to avoid them wandering around the campus alone, especially during our night performances. 

• When picking up students at Buchanan, please avoid parking in loading zones and leave several spaces open along the south curb near the bandroom. This area is reserved for bus unloading. Park only in designated parking spaces.

• Please be patient during bus unloading. Students exit row by row to check for missing items and clean their seating area.

Audience Etiquette:

• Remain completely quiet during live performances. You should not be on your mobile device unless it is between performances.

• Be attentive to what is happening on the stage, field, or floor.

• Be considerate of fellow audience members.

• Do not enter or exit the audience area during a performance.

• Video recording and flash photography are not permitted.

• Winter Season: After the students’ performance, please remain seated or use the spectator entrance/exit. Do not follow them out of the performer's exit. 

Being Supportive:

• Cheer for all students and ensembles—not just our own.

• Never cheer against competitors; they are students working hard to perform their best.

• At awards ceremonies, applaud all placements and recognitions, not only those received by our program.

• Winning awards is exciting, but delivering our best performance is what matters most.

*Shared from the Bands of America, host the St. George competition, as well as several regional and national marching championships each fall.

“Live daringly, boldly, fearlessly. Taste the relish to be found in competition – in having put forth the best within you.” – Henry J. Kaiser, American industrialist and founder of Kaiser Aluminum, Kaiser Steel, and the Kaiser Family Foundation

Competition is woven into the very fabric of America. Competing is a great motivator and provides amazing opportunities for learning life lessons. The essence of competition is in striving for performance excellence and being held accountable for learning. If the focus is on learning, the competitive climate will be an extremely valuable source that can be drawn from throughout life. On the other hand, the negativity associated with “winning at all costs” will be a detriment to personal growth. Winning is certainly a monumental benchmark, as is any measurement in the competitive arena. Performing your very best in competition is also a benchmark, as is competing with the very best programs. By choosing to participate in competition, individuals and groups have already “won” simply by being highly motivated.

The competitive arena provides a very precious opportunity to practice quality sportsmanship and sincere appreciation for the hard work of others. It also is the place where the very best models in our activity can be displayed and celebrated. All performers need models to demonstrate possibility at the highest levels of performance and artistry. As all programs continue to improve through motivation, the competition strengthens everyone pushing us beyond what we believed to be our potential. Every band performance is a gift to us all and must be treasured. First place is fleeting, but the learning associated with striving for excellence, the cooperative work ethic, and the appreciation of others is everlasting. We encourage participants, parents, and friends to celebrate the high value of the competitive environment for its lessons and to become immersed in “positively life-changing experiences.”